CHAPTER TWO They were tall And they were all women Tribal markings adorned their faces They were the Dora Milaje the king's private bodyguards and the fiercest warriors in the country Hints of gold and silver glinted from the bracelets and cuffs around their necks and arms Their spear points sparkled sparkled in the sun that filtered through the canopy of trees above them T'Challa had seen those spears before and knew that they also doubled as giant batons equipped with electrical charges T'Challa tensed My prince one of them said stepping forward with
a slight bow and placing her right hand on her heart The king has demanded your presence T'Challa was taken aback This man he started coming coming back to the moment He needs help He was mauled or We will take care of him the woman said without the slightest hint of sympathy The man tried to get up but one of the Dora Milaje thrust her spear just inches from his neck Don't leave me with them he pleaded his eyes going wide Please T'Challa didn't want to leave but he had to obey his father's command even if he did feel sorry for this strange man and whatever plight he had fallen into He turned to M'Baku I'll see you later I have to He is also summoned the woman interrupted him Both of you She cast a sidelong glance at M'Baku Now The young prince hesitated with each step he took What does he want with me M'Baku whispered a hint of fear in his voice I don't know T'Challa replied He was busy thinking thinking of what could have happened to the injured man He'd looked terrified Was it a wild animal A lion What was he doing in the forest The dense thicket of trees ahead of them thinned to reveal a sight that only a few from the outside world had ever seen Towering structures loomed up out of the forest
They weren't just skyscrapers They curved and swooped twisted and turned and seemed to defy the laws of physics Sunlight shone off steel and metal surfaces sending shards of light into the surrounding woods It would be a strange picture for someone unfamiliar with the landscape a futuristic city rising up out of a jungle but this was no ordinary place It was Wakanda the most technologically advanced nation on the face of the earth and it was ruled by T'Chaka the Black Panther and King of Wakanda This was the Golden City The Dora Milaje paused in front of the Royal Palace their spear points lowered to the ground The palace rose up out of the ground like a great orb with a single door framed in gold and jade Darkness beckoned from within T'Challa turned to look at M'Baku then both boys stepped through T'Challa's footsteps echoed in his ears The floors were black jade and highly polished casting a shadowy reflection reflection back up at him A massive slab of obsidian carved into the shape of a panther crouched at the far end of the room ready to pounce Its color was beyond black a lustrous inky hue that had no equal The eyes were its most intimidating intimidating feature two red gemstones that seemed to pierce T'Challa's very soul When he was a child he was afraid of those eyes but now he saw them as a reminder of his nation strong and always alert Up ahead his father sat on the Panther Throne its
surface studded with gleaming stones and rare metals The throne would someday be T'Challa's if he could pass the grueling tests and gain the ceremonial title of Black Panther His father seemed to take up all the air in the room Just his presence alone was enough to make grown men bow their heads in reverence He wore the robes and heraldry of the Panther Tribe and his garments shifted in color as T'Challa approached But his father wasn't alone M'Baku's father N'Gamo who sat on the king's war council stood next to him M'Baku bowed his head as he stood before his king then glanced at his father who remained motionless like a soldier carved from wood The King of Wakanda rose from his throne He was a big man broad-shouldered and strong and the weight of the nation rested on his shoulders Son he began M'Baku Where have you been The torches in the wall flickered as if his voice were strong enough to extinguish them T'Challa swallowed His mouth was dry In the forest Father Playing games I finished my studies and all of my lessons are complete The king nodded slowly He eyed M'Baku and then his gaze drifted back to T'Challa I have called you here because there is trouble brewing in the kingdom
